"Print Google Doc Comments: No Word Required"

Ever needed to print a Google Doc with comments, but found yourself face-to-face with the Google Docs interface insisting on converting your file to Microsoft Word first? While this might be a convenient solution for those who have access to the Microsoft suite, what about the rest of us? It turns out, there's a workaround for printing Google Docs with comments directly, without resorting to Word.

Before we dive in, let's make one thing clear: currently, the standard Google Docs print function doesn't support comment printing. However, with a simple workaround and a few clicks, you can make it happen. This guide will walk you through the process of printing your Google Docs with comments without using Microsoft Word.

Print Google Docs as PDF

First, let's familiarize ourselves with the print option that lacks the comment feature. When you click on 'File' and then 'Print', Google Docs defaults to the web browser print function. This feature doesn't include comments, which is our main concern. So, let's try another method.

Instead of using the web-based print function, we'll use the 'Download' option. Here's how:

Download as PDF

When you need to print Google Docs with comments, the first step is to convert your document into PDF format. Here's how to do this:

1. Open your Google Doc and click on 'File'.
2. Select 'Download'.
3. Choose 'PDF document (*.pdf)'.

Google Docs will then download your document in PDF format. But wait, where are the comments? They're there, but you'll need to make them visible first.

Printing Google Docs Comments

Now that we've downloaded our document as a PDF, let's bring those comments into view. Here's how to do it:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader or any PDF reader that allows annotations, like Google's built-in PDF viewer.
2. Open the PDF of your Google Doc.
3. Select the 'Comment' icon, which usually looks like a speech bubble with a pen inside.
4. Choose 'Enable Commenting'.
5. The comments on your document, now visible, can be printed along with the rest of the document.

Now you're ready to print. Use your computer's print function, and your Google Docs with comments will print as a hard copy.

Alternative Method: Use Google Forms

Another way to print Google Docs with comments is by using Google Forms. However, this method only works if you're commenting on the document while you're editing it. Here's how to do it:

1. Create a new Google Form.
2. Insert a new question and select the 'Title' option.
3. Paste the Google Doc URL into the 'Title' section.
4. Click on 'Create'.
5. Click on 'Submit' to open the document.
6. Now you can add comments, and they'll print out when you print the form.

Remember to have your printer defaults set to A4 or letter size to ensure everything prints correctly.

While neither of these methods is perfect, they both allow you to print Google Docs with comments without using Microsoft Word. You might need to adjust your text or formatting a bit after printing, but it's a worthy compromise for those who don't have access to the Microsoft suite. Happy printing!